Colins Ghost

Back in July, in a post about Fillies and Mares at Delaware Park, I mentioned the launch of the Daily Racing Form online archive. The archive is a tremendous resource for racing fans and I have made heavy use of it over the last few months. They recently posted a video about the project on YouTube so I thought this would be a good time for a well overdue post about this significant preservation project.

The 3,000 volume archive of the Daily Racing Form – the largest known collection of the Form – was donated to the Keeneland Library in 2000. In 2007, the preservation and digitization of the collection began in partnership with the University of Kentucky. The first phase of the online archive was launched this summer and is being hosted by the Kentuckiana Digital Library.

The digital archive has approximately 78,000 pages and 305,000 articles.  The online collection is not complete but does include selected issues of the Racing Form from 1897 to 1991. The first phase of the project focused on specific events primarily the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown season but does include selected issues from other events. For example, I discovered this summer that a portion of Saratoga’s 1919 season has been digitized (Man O’ War’s two-year-old season). They recently added DRF coverage of the first Breeders Cup from 1984.

A tremendous amount of work and expense goes into preserving and digitizing such a large and fragile collection — the folks at the Keelenand Library and the University of Kentucky have done a great job in completing this first phase. The website is easy to use with full-text searching and an intuitive interface. Each of the issues include a table of contents, making it possible to efficiently browse through multiple volumes.

The University of Kentucky and the Keeneland Library is currently seeking assistance for completing the remainder of the digitization — you can learn more about supporting the project on their website.

This recently produced video provides a brief description of the project:

Visit the homepage for the Daily Racing Form Online Archive

For folks on Twitter, you can get updates on the DRF Project at http://twitter.com/DRFpreservation

UPDATE:  Becky Rider from the the University of Kentucky left a comment and pointed out a feature of the archive that I had not noticed before.  On the advanced search page, it is possible to limit searches to headlines, bylines, past performances, race charts, advertisements, etc.  Thanks to Becky for taking the time to comment.    

Breeders Cup history from the pages of the DRF coming this week.

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!

On October 20, 1923 at Belmont Park, the Kentucky Derby winner, Zev, took on the English Derby winner, Papyrus, in a match race. The race – dubbed The International – was the first of its kind and years ahead of its time.  Sixty years before the first Breeder’s Cup, the Westchester Racing Association held a “World” Championship of racing.

In the spirit of big events, promoters made the most of the hype surrounding the race by charging exorbitant prices for tickets.  They also sold rights to produce a motion picture film of the race for American and European audiences

Sports writer N.W. Baxter reported the result of the much anticipated race for the Washington Post:

“Zev, 3-year-old colt owned by Harry F. Sinclair, this afternoon reached the pinnacle from which he may look down upon the long line of illustrious thoroughbreds which have come before him in the history of the American turf.

“He earned the right to be called champion of the world and the greatest money winner that racing in this country has ever known, by taking the international match race in an easy gallop, before between 50,000 and 60,000 persons – said to be the largest crowd which ever witnessed a turf event in the East.

“Five lengths back, straining still, but apparently all run out, was Papyrus.  The race itself was a dull ending to the weeks of interest and enthusiasm which had preceded it…The run through the stretch – where the onlooking thousands had expected to see a duel between the horseflesh of Great Britain and the United States, had hoped for a closely drawn finish and perhaps in their hearts wished furtively for a dead heat – was a parade. The American horse won, as the turf has it, ‘unattended.’ This was a triumph, but it was not the sort of thing to bring men’s hearts into their mouths, not make their spirits rise. The contest lived up to neither expectations nor the occasion.”

As Baxter said, the race itself was anti-climatic, as track conditions and a mistake by Papyrus’s trainer in shoeing his horse ruined the imports chance. Events surrounding the race, covered in detail by the press, emphasized the tremendous amount of hype that had been building since the race was announced in August of that year. While the race itself may have been a let down, the business generated around the event was not. One writer predicted: “…the race between Zev and Papyrus will live in history as a gigantic financial spectacle.”

Image: (Above) Race day program from The First International. Concerns over the condition of Zev, forced promoters to name My Own as an alternate in case Zev was deemed unfit to run. (Below) Photographs of the start printed on the front page of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle the day after the race (Sunday, October 21, 1923)

Here is how the Washington Post described the crowd who packed into Belmont Park to witness Zev-Papyrus:

“Although the scale of prices may have acted as a deterrent in some cases, the promoters of the race will not face a deficit. There could have been more persons on the lawns and in the grandstand, but not many. Where the expected throng fell off was in the infield. A few eager enthusiasts who could not or would not pay the seven times increased fee demanded for some sections camped in the infield from 10 o’clock on. A few thousand others joined them in the course of the afternoon, but there was a neither the crowd nor the color within the fence that has marked many a Kentucky Derby…”

Those not able to witness the race at Belmont Park, were able to see it in theaters soon after (a relative new and novel concept in 1923).  Exclusive film rights for the First International were sold for a reported $50,000 to Pathe Exchange Inc. Pathe used 30 cameras around the track and shipped an edited film to theaters in time for showings, in some locations, the following day.

Race fans in Niagra Falls, New York were able to watch the race on Sunday evening at the Lumberg Theater (a little over 24 hours later).   The  announcement about the film showing was reported Monday in the Niagra Falls Gazette:

“The first official Fox pictures of the Zev-Papyrus $100,000 race at Belmont Park were shown at the Lumberg last evening.  The film was brought from New York by a special messenger sent to the greater city for that purpose by Manager Marvin Atlas.

“The Lumberg did not advertise the race pictures for yesterday because of the possibility that the film would not arrive in time and the management did not wish to disappoint Lumberg patrons.  However, the messenger arrived in time for the pictures to be shown at the first show last night and the news that the pictures were at the Lumberg soon spread and followers of the sport of kings flocked to the popular amusement place to see the camera record of the great international event.

“The pictures are splendid. To see them is the next best thing to being at the race.”

The full version of the Zev-Papyrus film produced by British Pathe can be viewed on their website. The twenty-two minute film – including some astounding shots of Old Belmont Park – is well worth a look (especially the last seven minutes).

SOURCES, NOTES, AND OBSERVATIONS
“Racing Enthusiasts Eagerly Await $100,000 Match,” Washington Post, August 26, 1923
“Rialto to Exhibit First Pictures of Zev-Papyrus,” Washington Post, October 14, 1923
“Zev Beats Papyrus in Easy Style for Purse of $100,000,” Washington Post, October 21, 1923
“Scenes at International Race,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, October 21, 1923
“Zev Won His Easiest Victory, Papyrus Ran His Worst Race in International,” New York Herald, October 21, 1923
“At the Theatres,” Niagra Falls Gazette, October 22, 1923

Thanks to Ron Micetic for scanning his copy of The First International program.

Counting down to Breeders Cup — now just two weeks from Saturday.  As annoyed as I am with some of the changes over the last few years — it is still a day that every race fan looks forward to (yes, I know it is now two days but BC Day is still one day in my book — just as the Distaff will always be the Distaff).

Be sure to keep an eye out for Hello Race Fans — a new site being developed by Dana Byerly of Green But Game.  They are planning a pre-launch during the Breeders Cup.  You can sign up for email alerts and read more about it at http://helloracefans.com/

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!

With the invasion of the European steeds into Santa Anita for this year’s Breeders Cup, I though it might be interesting to take a look at the history of international racing on American soil over the next few weeks.

Today, we take the idea of shipping horses across oceans and continents for granted. In 1952, the Bloodhorse headline after the inaugural Washington D.C. International read: “Laurel Brings off the Impossible – a Successful International Race.” Impossible indeed, twenty-five years after Charles Lindberg made his historic flight across the Atlantic, horses were being flown across the ocean to compete for a $50,000 purse in a small Maryland town.

The first international race of significance in the U.S. took place in 1923 when the Kentucky Derby champ Zev beat the English Derby winner Papyrus in the First International at Belmont Park. Different styles of racing and the obvious limitations of shipping horses by boat, dashed any hopes that such match-ups would become commonplace. Before the Second World War, instances of shipping horses into the U.S. to race were few and far between. It was only after the war that shipping horses by air became feasible and accepted by horsemen who had owners willing to foot the bill.

Images: Horses arrive by air for the 1952 Washington D.C. International at Laurel Park (Life Magazine)

The second development that made international racing possible was the adoption of flat turf racing in America. While many tracks in the United States had steeplechase courses, few had flat turf courses before 1950 (Hialeah being the notable exception). According to Sports Illustrated, in 1952 only 12 stakes in the country were run over flat turf and most of them were established after 1945.

In 1947, Jim Butler of the Empire City Racing Association created the Empire City Gold Cup in New York and openly campaigned European owners to send their horses to compete. Being run over a dirt surface, very few international horses showed up, and the race disappeared after its 1952 running.

Bringing high-class competition from overseas onto American soil required compromises, an acceptable surface, and a track owner willing to make an investment in the idea. John Shapiro, owner of Laurel Racetrack, put all the pieces together and made international racing in the United States a reality.

On August 1, 1952, the Washington Post columnist Shirley Povich filed this story after attending a press conference at Laurel Park announcing the first Washington D.C. International:

“…(Today) Laurel announced a $50,000 international race for the thoroughbred champions of England, France, Germany, Ireland, Canada, and the United States…

“…Laurel, in addition to posting the 50 grand purse, will pick up the check for the plane transportation of the foreign entries, Former Ambassador [of Ireland George] Garrett announced: ‘The track will probably take a licking on the race financially,’ he said ‘but it will stimulate the breeding industry abroad, as well as in this country’…

“….The date they picked for their big race, which [Washington Post writer] Jack Walsh calls the four footed Olympics, is October 18. The clash with the Maryland U.-Navy football game on that same date at College Park was lightly brushed off. Racing and football fans are worlds apart it was explained and anyway, as one bright reporter pointed out, ‘Laurel has nothing to fear from Maryland-Navy unless they install mutuel machines in Byrd Stadium [University of Maryland's football stadium].’

“New York tried the same sort of International Cup Race a few years back, for a $50,000 added purse too, and gave it up after a couple of dismal attempts at Jim Butler’s track. The fields were skimpy, the European breeders didn’t respond much, and neither did the customers, and mostly the competition for the United States steeds came from South America.

“The Laurel people think they can do it better. They will embellish the race with the presence of internationally famous bipeds from the embassies and legations, and give it social as well as a horsey aroma. The apex of the Laurel people’s hopes is that the fabulous Aga Kahn himself, personally, the father-in-law of Rita Hayworth, will deign to watch his three-year-old filly Nashua, from England, compete at Laurel…

“…The chief rub could be the absence of the top American stars like Blue Man, or Counterpoint or Sparton Valor who might decline the issue against the invading big shots, because the race will be run on the turf, not the dirt track of America. There are American turf runners, but they are the likes of Pilaster and Vulcanic, solid horses but hardly associated with standouts in the public mind.

“As concessions to the foreign folks, Mr. Garrett pointed our, there will also be the walk-up start, not from the stalls which the Continental steeds are familiar; also the longer distance of a mile and half they prefer. Laurel won’t go so far, however, as to ask the United States entries to race clockwise, which is the wrong way here and the right way in England…

As race day approached, two months later, Povich wrote, “Laurel President John Shapiro deserves a ringing A for effort. He is putting on a refreshing sort of show in a business that all along has had a heavy accent on the dollar sign.”

Shapiro drew a field from England, Canada, and Germany with three entries from the United States. American runner Greek Ship, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, was sent off as the favorite but the race was won by an English colt, Wilwyn, owned by British bookmaker George Rolls.
[Correction: Wilwyn was owned by Robert Boucher, a hops grower from England. George Rolls owned Zuccero, the English racer who ran third. Many thanks to the anonymous commenter who pointed our this error]

Image: Wilwyn in the winner’s circle. Jockey Manny Mercer being interviewed

The day after the race, Post reporter Jack Walsh wrote: “It’s the best thing that could have happened from Laurel’s standpoint. The finish, like the day itself, was perfect. It would seem to insure the future success of what could develop into a great turf fixture.”

The International did become a ‘turf fixture’ and arguably became one of the most significant races on the American racing calendar.

The final running of the International took place in 1994. By that time, it had lost it’s stature as the Breeder’s Cup became the late season destination for the best of the breed starting in the 1980s.

The D.C. International is widely considered the first successful venture in hosting high class international thoroughbred racing in the United States. The International laid the foundation for the United Nations Handicap, the Arlington Million, and the Breeder’s Cup turf races — all races that have historically drawn horses from overseas to compete in America.

An esteemed group of panelists assembled by the Bloodhorse made the first D.C. International number seventeen in their list of Horse Racing’s Top 100 Moments.

SOURCES AND NOTES
This Morning with Shirley Povich, Washington Post, Aug 1, 1952
This Morning with Shirley Povich, Washington Post, Oct 15, 1952
International Runs Today, Washington Post, Oct 18, 1952
Everybody’s Happy About Laurel Race, Washington Post, Oct 19, 1952

All images from the Life Magazine archives

Image: Wilwyn returns to the barn after winning the 1st D.C. International

Related Articles of Interest:

Steve Haskin provided historical background on international racing in his outstanding article about Dahlia

Quiz about the D.C. International from Sports Illustrated, 1962

Queen Of The Turf — Racing on grass in the U.S. gets a boost from Elizabeth Regina, 1954

Life magazine reports on the first Washington D.C. International, 1952

NEXT WEEK: The Zev-Papyrus Match Race

THANKS FOR READING AND GOOD LUCK!